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Dominance of memory over naive T cells in contact dermatitis is due to differential tissue immigration
Author(s) -
STERRY W.,
BRUHN SILKE,
KüNNE N.,
LICHTENBERG BEATE,
WEBERMATTHIESEN K.,
BRASCH J.,
MIELKE V.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1990.tb01824.x
Subject(s) - immunology , biology , phenotype , memory t cell , t cell , antigen , secretion , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , genetics , gene , endocrinology
summary CD 4 + T cells include a naive (CD 4 + , CD 45 RO ‐ , CD 29 ‐ , CD 45 RA + ) as well as a memory subpopulation (CD 4 + , CD 45 RO + , CD 29 + , CD 45 RA ‐ ). These subpopulations represent different stages in T‐cell development and function. Recently, it has been shown that inflammatory and neoplastic CD 4 + T‐cell infiltrates are dominated by the memory subpopulation, whereas both subpopulations are about the same size in the peripheral blood. This was thought to be the result of in situ maturation of naive into memory T cells. We analysed early positive patch‐test reactions 1–2 days after antigen challenge and found that most of the CD 4 + T cells that had freshly immigrated into the tissue carried the memory phenotype. Their preferential migration may be mediated by at least five adhesion molecules expressed on their cell surface. This observation has important pathogenetic implications, since memory T cells can be rapidly activated by antigens and secrete a wide variety of pro‐inflammatory cytokines.